SAN RAMON — The city will spend up to $30,400 to better understand the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the city and its workforce.

The San Ramon City Council on Tuesday awarded a contract to Keenan & Associates to perform a “Strategic Impact Study and Workforce Analysis” that will help ensure the city complies with the new federal health care legislation.

The study will determine the cost to the city to follow the new rules and identify the employees the city must now provide health coverage to, according to the staff report.

The Affordable Care Act was signed by the president in 2010, but key components, such as medical coverage through a new health insurance marketplace, will not take effect until 2014. Most Americans will be required to have insurance in 2014 to avoid a tax penalty, and individuals can enroll in the marketplace beginning Oct. 1.

Also coming in 2014 is the removal of both limits on medical coverage because of pre-existing conditions and annual dollar limits for essential health benefits. Added will be new limits on employee out-of-pocket costs, among other things.

The requirement for employers of 50 or more people to provide health coverage to full-time employees — defined as those who work an average of 30 hours a week or more — or face penalties was postponed to 2015.

Ashly McGlone covers San Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Ramon and the Washington Township Health Care District. Contact her at 510-293-2463. Follow her at Twitter.com/AshlyReports.

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